The entire Teton region is an epicenter of mountain play. But that comes at a a cost. Photo: AJ Powder//JHMR
A mid-year report presented by Wyoming’s Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) reveals that this past winter was one of the volunteer organization’s busiest ever. The bi-annual report tracks call-outs, missing persons, trainings, and community events. But the 64 rescues the agency embarked on between December 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, stood out. Of course TCSAR covers one of the most impressive mountain regions in the Lower 48 that includes Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Teton National Park, Teton Pass and parts of Yellowstone National Park.
The 64 rescue calls TCSAR responded to included 27 backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Another 17 were calls to rescue snowmobilers, which could technically include other skiers and snowboarders accessing backcountry routes, the organization noted. The other rescue calls in that span also included motorists, mountain bikers, hikers, and more, but the largest share of rescues involved backcountry skiing and snowboarding throughout Teton County.
“That figure rivals nearly the entire number of calls for many years before 2021, when annual calls for service took a dramatic jump,” TCSAR wrote of the 64 total calls. “In the past six months, February saw the most calls with 18, while January had 13. After a relatively quiet March and April, the team saw a spike in May with 13 calls for service.”
Photo: TCSAR
As mentioned, the search and rescue crew is largely made up of volunteers that make it possible for TCSAR to commit to 24-7 emergency availability. The organization’s 38 volunteers undergo rigorous training that doesn’t just focus on avalanche rescue, but also swiftwater rescue and wilderness medicine. Throughout the year, those volunteers will have given 10,000 hours to the job, ranging from training hours to community events, and of course, search and rescue responsibilities.
“Our volunteers are committed and willing to work hard to provide a service to our community,” said TCSAR Chief Advisor Cody Lockhart. “In the thick of rescue season, heading out into a storm at night starts to feel normal — but it is not. Whenever I can step back and get some perspective on the TCSAR team, I am amazed that an ordinary group of community volunteers are able to come together, risk their lives, and go into the mountains to save people they’ve never met.”
